Clasp for connecting straps.



No. 643,43l. Patented Feb. l3, I900. J. V. WASHBURNE. CLASP FURCONNECTING STRAPS.

1Application filed Feb. 9 1899.) (No Model.)

THE warns PETERS co Pnoflxumm WASHINGTON nv c.

' ited motion that one part is permitted in re- NrrE TA AEN CLASP FORCONNECTING STRAPS.

SFECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 643,431, dated February13, 1900.

Application filed February 9, 1 8 9 9.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JAMES V. WAsHBURNE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Waterbury, in the county of New Haven and State ofConnecticut, have invented an Improvement in Clasps for Rein-Holders,&c., of which the following is a specification.

In clasps or checkrein-holders, &c., there is a movement of one part(upon the other that tends speedily to either wear the parts, so thatthey do not properly engage one another, or else to bend the spring, sothat it ceases to properly hold the parts together.

The present invention is made with reference to overcoming the aforesaiddifliculties; and it consists in two rigid metallic parts that are madeto interlock and to remain in the proper relative position while in use,the spring simply serving to press one part toward the other, and the.spring is preserved from undue strain either in connecting ordisconnecting the parts in conscquen cc of a limlation to the other.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a section longitudinally of the two partsof the clasp in their connected positions and in a form adapted to holda checkrein. Fig. 2 is a similar View representing the manner in whichthe two parts are disconnected. Fig. 3 is a plan view showing the twoparts detached and one of the members partially in section. Fig. 4 is aplan, and Fig. 5 is a section, of the clasp in a form adapted togarments.

The clasp is made of the two parts A and B, which are advantageously ofcast metal, and one is provided with the mortise 5,through which therein or other strap is passed. The mortise may be of'any desiredcharacter, according to the rein or strap with which the clasp is used,or the strap or straps may be connected in any preferred way. When usedfor a rein-holder, one part may be connected to the saddle, a portion ofwhich is illustrated at D.

In Figs. 4 and 5 the clasp is represented with a mortise 6 at the endopposite to the mortise 5, so as to be adapted to receive a strap ateach end, so as to adapt the clasp toa garment; but in Fig. 2 the claspis illustrated as adapted to a rein-holder, with one part B connected tothe saddle or other por- Serial No. 705,069. (No model.)

tion of the harness, which is indicated at D. Upon the part B is aflange 4, through which is a mortise 7 of a size and shape adapted topass the tongue end 8 of the portionAof the clasp, and in this tongue 8is an opening 9, adapted to set over a lug 2 upon the portion B of theclasp, and the size and shape of the mortise 7 in the flange 4 is to besuch that the tongue 8 will pass through the same and one part can beturned out of line to the other part sufficiently for the tongue tooverride the lug 2 as the parts are pressed together,- and then thetongue rests upon the surface of the part B of the clasp, with the lug 2passing into the hole or mortise 9, and the reverse movement is given tothe parts when they are to be separated, and the width of the mortise 7in the flange 4should be sufficiently narrow to prevent the part A beingturned too far in separating one portion of the clasp from the other.The spring 3 is represented in Figs. 4 and 5 as fastened upon thesurface of the part B of the clasp, and its duty is simply to hold thetongue 8 in its position after the same has been hooked over the lug 2,and this spring yields when the parts are unhooked, as aforesaid, andthe movement of the tongue being limited by the mortise through which itpasses the spring is not ex posed to unnecessary bending action. Hencethe spring is not liable to injury, and in the posit-ion shown in Figs.1 and 5 the end of the spring being closely adjacent to the flange 4 isprotected from injury or liability to be comeentangled in any adjacentarticle and bent. The end of the spring 3 adjacent to the mortise 6 maystop short of such mortise or it may be extended around the mortise andhave a coinciding mortise through it. In consequence of the tongue 8passing through the mortise 7 and engaging the lug 2 both lateralandlongitudinal motion are prevented,

and to disengage the parts it is necessary to swing one part into anangular position to the other part to lift the tongue off the lug by aleverage action, and that movement being limited the spring 3 can becomparatively stiff and strong and without liability to be-- come bentor set in the latching or unlatching, the back surface of the lug beingadvantageously beveled, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 5.

I remark that it is advantageous to round the end of the tongue 8, asshown, so that it may pass more freely in between the spring 3 and thelug 2.

here it is desired to make the spring 3 longer, it may be bent andcarried around heneath the plate B, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3,andriveted or otherwise fastened, and when this clasp is'used for acheckrein it simplifies the parts to connect the plate B to the saddle,(indicated at D,) and this connection may be made in any desired manner.I, however, prefer and use a bolt E with a head ornut above the plate B,and this may pass through the underturned end of the spring 3 to hold itin place, and the head or nut of the bolt may be ornamental and passthrough a hole in the spring and extend above the same, as illustratedin Fig. 1. In this case the plate A will be upon the checkrein, andthere will remain nothing upon the saddle but the plate B and spring,and this will not be in the way or objectionable in appearance, even ifthe cheekrein is left off. The bar in the flange that crosses above themortise 7 can extend all across or the middle part can be removedwithout changing the action of the same.

Although the two parts A and B are stated to be advantageously made ofcast metal, it is obvious that they can as well be made of sheet metal,which in some instances will effeet a saving and produce a betterarticle.

I claim as my invention- A clasp composed of two parts, one part havinga tongue at the end of it and the other part a flange with a mortisethrough it for the passage of the tongue, a lug on one part and amortise on the other part for interlocking the two parts and a springattached to one part and acting upon the tongue of the other part forpressing the two parts together, substantially as set forth.

Signed by me this 4th day of February, 1899.

JAMES V. \VASHBURNE.

Vitnesses:

ROBERT A. LOWE, MICHAEL J. BYRNE.

